Handcuff



Dec. 13, 1932. 5, w, PRATT 1,890,748

HANDCUFF Filed Dec. 21, 1931 l I .VENTOR.

' gaa/W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE W. PRATT, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA HANDCUFF Application filed December 21, 1931.

This invention is an improvement in handcuffs, and is particularly directed to apair of handcuffs provided with a rigid spacer bar or stock, one of the cuffs being collapsible, a

portion of the collapsible cuff forming one portion of a handle, the other portion of the cuff being foldable in a shield forming the other portion of the handle.

The main object of the invention is to provide a pair of handcufls which may be converfted into a nipper by collapsing one ofthe on s.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of individually adjustable ends having a rigid spacer bar or stock and comprising a nipper cuff and a retractile cuff with means for positively locking the nipper cufi by the retractile'cuff, except when the retractile cuif is fully retracted.

A further object of the invention is to form a retractile cuff in which one of the members forms one part of a handle which is integral with the stock and providing a shield for the other member which coincidently forms the other part of the handle.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a lock for handcuffs which cannot be opened except by a properly formed key, and in which no foreign matter can be introduced into the lock or broken portions of a key can enter the lock to jamb the mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout theseveral views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the invention taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, with a portion of the stock shown full.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the releasing mechanism for the lock.

The stock consists of a cylindrical portion 10 terminating at one end in a pair of op- Serial No. 582,261.

positely extending handle members 11 and 12, the other end of the stock continuing into an enlarged portion 13, from one side of which extends an integral bifurcated arcuate cuff member 14 to the end of which is pivotally connected a complementary cuff member 15, forming a nipper cuff. The enlarged portion 13 has a slot 16 formedtherein to receive the ratchet section 17 of cuff member 15. An elongated slot 18 is formed in the cylindrical section 10 in registry with a central longitudinal bore 19 extending through the stock and which terminates in stepped counterbores 20 and 21; V

The complementary cuff member 15 is pivotally connected between the two arms of the bifurcated member 14 as indicated at 22, and has an integral ratchet 17 the periphery of which is formedto a radius with pivot 22 as a center, and has ratchet teeth 23 formed in the periphery opposed to opening movement to the cuff member 15.

A plunger pawl 24 is slidably mounted in the counterbore 21 and is provided with com plementary teeth 25 adapted to cooperate with ratchet teeth 23 and ratchet 17. Integral with or fixed to pawl 24 is a plunger 26 extending through the bore 19 and having a pin 27 transversely secured therein and extending outwardly through slot 18 forming a finger release for pawl 24.

The above features with the exception of the members 11 and 12 are disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 406,337, filed Novemberll, 1929.

The invention proper consists of a quadral element consisting of two main arcuate cuff members 12 and 28, the member 12 being integral with the stock 10 and forming coincidently a handle member or grip, the other portion 11 of the handle comprising a shield for the other main cuff member 28 which has one end pivotally mounted between'the walls of the shield 11 as indicated at 29. An aperture 30 is adapted to receive the end 31 of plunger-26 when the member 28 is retracted within the shield 11 as indicated-by the dotted lines,' pivotally secured to the other endof, member .28 as indicated at 32 is a rack member 33 which is'provided on its outer face with gear teeth 34 formed on a pitch radius with pivot 29 as a center, when the cuff is closed.

Pivotally secured to the outer end of member 12 as indicated at 35 is an arcuately formed locking member 36 having an enlarged portion 37 in which is formed a housing 38 enclosing the lock mechanism. A slot 39 is adapted to freely receive the rack arm 40 and is formed on a radius with pivot 29 as a center. The pivoted joint at 35. consists of an ear 41 having flat faces 42 and 43 which cooperates with a spring operated plunger-44 providing two position retaining means for the member 36.

The enlarged portion 37 of member 36 is recessed at 45 to fit over the member 33 when retracted as shown by the dotted lines and is also adapted to be frictionally retained between the ear extensions 46 as shown in Fig. 3. I

The locking mechanism consists of a pair of coaxial gears 47 separated by a dividing wall 48 and pivotally mounted and cooperating with the racks 40. A pair of spring urged pawls 49 are pivotally mounted at 50 and cooperate with the two gears 47, one being disposed on each side of the dividing plate 48. A pair of cam members 49 and 50 are mounted to cooperate with the pawl arm 51 and are ada ted to limited rotative movement in bloc s 52 which are secured to the dividing plate 48. A keyhole 53 extends through one outer wall 54, through the dividing plate 48 and both cam members 49 and, 50.

The operation of the cuff is as follows:

With both cuffs in closed position as indicated in Fig. 1 pawl 24 cannot be moved out of engagement with ratchet teeth 23 as the plunger 26 is prevented from moving downwardly by the ear of member 28. By lifting pawl 49, by means of a key inserted in key hole 53 and rotating the key, and coincidently the cams 49 and 50, the gears 47 are released and permit withdrawal of rack member 40 from slot 39. As shown in Fig. 5 the keycannot be withdrawn until the cams are re turned to locking position, and the key must have a slot to pass the dividing plate 48 otherwise the key cannot be turned. Should a portion of the key be broken off the broken part remains in the cams and cannot get into the lockv mechanism to jamb the lock. Should an attempt be made to pick the lock, the dividing plate 48 would prevent turning the member unless a slot was provided tov pass the plate 48, and both pawls must be released through the individually actuated cams to release the lock.

After withdrawal of member 40, the cuff may be folded back to the position shown in dotted lines in which position the hole 30 will register with the end 31 of plunger 26, permitting retraction of the pawl 24 by,

means of pin 27 which permits withdrawal of ratchet member 17.

With the retractile cuff folded back as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the device is adaptable for use as a nipper, the folded cufi and shield forming a handle which may be firmly gripped.

Having described an operable method of constructing and using the invention it will be noted that variations in construction and arrangement of parts. which are consistent with the appended claims may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. In a pair of handcuffs, in combination, a cylindrical stock, a retractile cuif, a transverse handle connected to said stock and consisting of oppositely extending members, one of said members coincidently forming a sheath for reception of a section of said retractile cuff, the other of said members forming coincidently one section of said retractile cufi'.

2. In a pair of handcuffs, in combination, a cylindrical stock, a retractile cuff, a transverse .handle integral therewith and consisting of a sheath member and one member of said retractile cufi, the other members of said cufi being adapted to fold within said shield and against said one member.

3. A retractile cuff comprising a rigid stock and a plurality of members, a transverse handle integral therewith and consisting of a sheath member and one member of said retractile cufi', the other members of said retractile cuff being hingedly related respectively to said one member and to the sheath member adjacent the stock.

4. A hand cuff comprising a rigid stock, a nipper cuff connected to one end of said stock, the other end of said stock terminating in an integral transverse handle and a retractile cuff, one portion of said handle forming one member of said retractile cuff and; having the lock member of said cuff hingely connected thereto, and, a rack member intermediately hinged and pivotally connected to said handle adjacent the end of said stock.

5. In combination with a handcuff a lock comprising a housing having two compartments formed by a dividing wall, coaxially mounted gears in said compartments, a pawl cooperating with each of said gears, a cam rotatably mounted and cooperating with each pawl, and a key hole extending through one outer wall, both cams and the dividing wall of said housing.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 

